Hi, Bustino. I think you'll find I did mention Reform in the body of the main Article. Ref. Busted, yes, now you mention it, you're right about Moore not riding Busted ( I mistakenly assumed he did). Without checking it, my gut feeling is that Bill Rickaby rode it. You're right about Persian War. I saw his first novice hurdle (at Ascot, I think)in a TV shop, and I'd never seen a horse so far behind going into Swinley Bottom. The ground he made up was unbelievable, and he would have won in another half a furlong. That Schweppes Trophy was a fantastic race between Persian War, Major Rose, and Sempervivum- three quality horses, any one of which would have won Champion Hurdles in many years.
Yes Rickaby got the ride of the 5th favourite for the Eclipse. Moore may have been a good jockey but maybe he wasn't a good judge it would seem. I'm also not sure Murless thought he was that good as he was upset at the time with the Derby ride. I'm sure Barclay rode Royal Palace as well as Moore. Despite the raptures about this year's renewal, 1968's has to be the best Eclipse since the mid-30s at the very least. Persian War was 2nd first time out but made such an impression he was snapped up by Alper. To win 3 Champion Hurdles and after that to win an Irish Champion Hurdle is pretty impressive. Unlike most Champion Hurdlers these days he was also the best Novice by miles. Put back on the flat he couldn't hack it. He had something like 7stone 5lbs in the '68 or '69 Newbury Autumn Cup but made no impression: very strange.
Bustino, why was Murless upset at the Derby ride? From what I remember, yes, Moore came quite early but put the race to bed before Ribocco's late run. Yes it was strange about Persian War's poor flat form- since he could sustain a really lengthy, strong gallop over hurdles. I remember his beating Tom Jones' Chorus who had a great turn of foot (possibly his first Champion win)but, though Chorus came to challenge round the home turn, Persian War just galloped away from him. Also, I echo your previous comment about Royal Palace- he was a very, very good Derby winner and underrated by many; likewise his Champion Stakes conqueror, Reform, was an underrated miler who had the pace, conformation, and quality to be a champion sprinter too- I remember his slaughtering future Irish 1000 Guineas winner, Lacquer, and good sprinter Green Park- in the autumn of their 2 year old campaigns. Happy memories, Bustino. What's your view of Frankel, by the way?
